Eneco Tour 2014 Route stage 6: Heerlen (NL) - La Redoute (B)

Saturday, August 16 - In 173 kilometres the Queen Stage of the 2014 Eneco Tour leads from Heerlen to the famous La Redoute. After a local spin in the southern parts of the Netherlands the riders are off to the Ardennes for a ride resembling Liege-Bastogne-Liege. (Slideshow route/profile)

Eneco Tour 2014 Trail Stage 6: Heerlen - La Redoute

It's not the first time Heerlen welcomes the best cyclists in the world. In 2012 the city was on the route of the UCI Road World Championships cycling, hosted by nearby town Valkenburg.

The penultimate stage of the Dutch/Belgian Eneco Tour opens with a local circuit, containing some hills and an intermediate sprint, and then the riders are off to the Ardennes, famous for Liege-Bastogne-Liege with its many hills.

With 86 kilometres done they crest Côte de Banneux and next comes the first ascent of La Redoute. Upon passing the finish line riders go on and race a local circuit twice, containing Côte de Fraiture, Côte de Chambralles, Côte de Niaster and La Redoute. The finish line is halfway La Redoute, at the end of the steepest part.

So the toughest section of La Redoute is done thrice. The climb totals 1.7 kilometres at an average gradient of 9.5%. The steepest part of 22% is in the first half of the ascent.